Many hardware, home supply and general stores carry smoke alarms, according to the Greeley Fire Department. The fire department recommends making sure the alarm you buy is UL-listed. If you’re not sure where to get one, call your Greeley Fire Department at (970) 350-9510.

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The Friday morning fire that severely damaged a home in Greeley caused a $100,000 in damage to the building and $50,000 to the contents inside the home.

According to Greeley Fire Department Lt. Kevin Maloney, the home, 4310 29th St. Road, in Greeley has been declared by the city as uninhabitable.

At 11:54 a.m. Friday, firefighters from Greeley Fire Station No. 5, responded to the scene after a neighbor saw smoke coming out of the house and called 911. Firefighters immediately initiated a fire attack and by then, the kids — ages 16, 14 and seven — who were in the house when the fire began, had left the building. The children were alerted by the smoke detectors that went off and the smell and sight of smoke coming from the garage. The homeowners were at work at the time the fire started.

After two-and-a-half hours, the fire was contained and firefighters stayed for two more hours to assess and ensure the fire was completely out.

According to Maloney, it was determined that the cause of the fire was “hot barbecue coals placed unintentionally in the garage by an adult.” One of the adults was separating the cold coals from the hot ones and wrongly placed them where they didn’t belong.

The fire began in the garage and moved toward the attached home and upward to the top bedrooms. Maloney said the fire got a good head start but was 75 percent contained by Fire Station No. 5 before other fire crews arrived to assist.

Red Cross was notified of the situation but the family told firefighters they had other living arrangements. Firefighters drove by Friday evening and Saturday morning to ensure the fire was completely out and no hot spots were left.